Ecological variation of plant and animal species in grassland and disturbed environments at York University

Methods:

In
order to assess the relationship between species abundance and habitat, 2 tape
measures were used to create a 50 meter transect in grassland and a disturbed area respectively. 4 different surveys were conducted along the transect.

The
first survey was conducted on herbaceous plants. Every two meters along the 50
meter transect, a quadrat was placed, alternating between left and right of the
transect, for a total of 25 replicates. Total number of native plants, exotic
plants, and flowers were visually counted within each quadrat. The same
procedure was conducted both in grassland and in a disturbed area.

The
second survey was conducted on woody plants. Every two meters along the 50
meter transect, the trees within 0.5 meters of either side were counted, for a
total of 25 replicates. The canopy coverage of each tree and the total
vegetation ground coverage were visually estimated and the total number of
flowers were visually counted. Only trees that were taller than 1.5m in height
were counted. The same procedure was conducted both in grassland and in a
disturbed area.

The third survey was conducted on vertebrates and invertebrates.
Within a 50 meter radius starting at the beginning of the transect tape, visual
aerial observations were made for 15 minutes. This procedure was repeated for a
5 meter radius starting at the beginning of the transect. Vertebrate abundance,
number of different vertebrate species, number of different invertebrate
species and human abundance were recorded. The same procedure was conducted both
in grassland and in a disturbed area.

The
fourth survey was conducted on invertebrates. 6 pan traps (solo bowls filled
halfway with soap water) alternating between white, yellow and blue in colour
were placed 3 meters apart from one another along the 50 meter transect. Total
number of invertebrates caught in the pan traps were counted after 45 minutes.
During the 45 minutes, sweep nets were used along the 50 meter transect for 10
replicates. Abundance of invertebrates found in the net after each sweep was
counted. The same procedures were conducted both in grassland and in a
disturbed area.

Study
Site:

This
study took place at the Northeast corner of York University Keele campus on
October 13th, 2016 between 2:30PM to 4:30PM. The weather was cold and windy and
the temperature was 11⁰C. The study was conducted in a grassland located beside
Danby Woods at 43.776126⁰N, -79.49628⁰W at an elevation of 176.309174 ft and a
disturbed area located at 43.776088⁰N, -79.4399102⁰W at an elevation of 174.439102
ft. A 50 meter transect, pan traps, sweep nets, and  1m2 quadrats were used as equipment.
Visual counts were made to measure each attribute.

Hypothesis:

The abundance of plants will be greater where there is less
canopy coverage. This is because a greater canopy coverage reduces sunlight to
plants below the tree.

Predictions:

1)
The grassland will have less trees, therefore less canopy coverage.

2) The total number of plants will be greater in the grassland.

3) The invertebrate abundance will be greater where there are more
plants.

Group
Members:

Avani
Abraham, Vanessa Guo, Monica Matta, Krysten Zarivnij

Meta-data (attribute & description):

CENSUS:

Each group in each lab section samples each block only ONCE,
order of sampling is organized by lab ta to ensure at least one group samples
each block over three separate weeks

Corresponds to the sampling week. Week5=1, Week7=2 and Week8=3

(categorical data)

CALENDAR.DATE:

Month and date of data collection in 2016, in the format
(oct13-2016)

(discrete data)

CAMPUS:

The York University Keele campus was recorded as YorkU and the
University of Toronto Mississauga Campus was recorded at UTM.

(categorical data)

GROUP_ID:

The unique group identifier within each lab. Group_ID was the
word “lab” followed by the first 2 digits corresponding to the lab section,
then the word “group” is followed by the two digits corresponding to the group
within the lab section. The TA assigns a group number within each labs section.

(categorical data)

HABITAT:

Grassland is defined as an open area at least 250m by 250m in
size with few trees. A disturbed area is defined as open space similar to
grassland in size but with more mixed vegetation and more trails/pathways for
people such as a university open commons.

(categorical data)

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE:

The geographic location of each plot in UTM coordinates.

(continuous data)

ELEVATION:

The height above the sea level in ft.

(continuous data)

REP:

The number of replicates per
observation.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.NATIVE.PLANTS:

A 1m x 1m quadrat was used to measure the abundance of native
vegetation in the quadrat. Quadrats were used to determine the abundance of
vegetation along a 50m transect. Quadrats were placed on alternating sides 2m
apart along the 50m transect.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.EXOTIC.PLANTS:

A 1m x 1m quadrat was used to measure the abundance of exotic
vegetation in the quadrat. Quadrats were used to determine the abundance of
vegetation along a 50m transect. Quadrats were placed on alternating sides 2m
apart along the 50m transect.

(discrete data)

TOTAL.NUMBER.FLOWERS:

Flowers observed in quadrats were recorded as a total number of
independent flower heads. Each flower was considered independent if it has its
own stem.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.WOODY.PLANTS:

In grassland and disturbed areas, using a transect tape
abundance of woody plants were counted within 0.5m on both sides of tape. Woody
plants were considered any vegetation observed with bark/woody stems.

(discrete data)

CANOPY.COVER:

At every other meter, an estimate of canopy coverage (look up)
was observed. A quantitative measure was used to describe how much canopy
covered the observers view. A percentage of the coverage was recorded as an
integer (1-100).

(continuous data)

GROUND.COVER:

At every other meter (alternating with canopy coverage),
estimate vegetative ground cover (look down) was observed. A quantitative
measure was used to describe how much ground covered the observers view. A
percentage of the coverage was recorded as an integer (1-100).

(continuous data)

TOTAL.FLOWER.NUMBERS:

Every 5m, record total number flowers within 1m of the transect
tape. This is a very coarse, landscape-level estimate of floral density within
this region of your campus.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.VERTEBRATES:

Abundance of animals such as squirrels, birds, etc. were
recorded. Vertebrates were observed within 50m radius of the beginning of the
50m transect for 15mins. A tape measure was used as a guide for the 50m
transect.

(discrete data)

VERTEBRATE.RICHNESS:

Any vertebrate species that looked different was considered a
unique species and counted independent of similar looking species. Abundance of
unique vertebrate species observed during a 15min survey period.

(discrete data)

ABUDANCE.HUMAN:

Abundance of humans were recorded. Humans were observed within
50m radius of the beginning of the 50m transect for 15mins. A tape measure was
used as a guide for the 50m transect.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.PANTRAPS:

Total abundance of insects captured using pan traps placed along
a 50m transect at ground level.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.SWEEPS:

Total abundance of insects captured using sweep nets used along
a 50m transect at ground level.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.OBSERVED:

Total abundance of flying insects observed within 5m radius of
the beginning of the 50m transect. Recorded as a single value in the first row
of your data sheet as a total sum. Abundance of invertebrates were observed for
15 min.

(discrete data)